Members of the Brown Community:

The social media challenge that began nationwide in May, in which pedestrians are struck with non-lethal gel or water-based projectiles from airsoft guns, continues to impact our community and others nearby. The Department of Public Safety has sent multiple notifications about these incidents throughout this fall, and we write today to offer important reminders about the actions we are taking and how we can all work together to help protect community safety. We also provide an update with regard to the approach to notifications of these incidents.

Since the middle of this month, campus community members have experienced four incidents. With assistance from Brown DPS, as well as the individuals who were impacted, the Providence Police Department was able to arrest and charge multiple suspects. While these follow separate arrests related to earlier incidents, these acts are not committed by a particular group, but instead by many different individuals spurred on by the national social media challenge. For that reason, it’s important to remain vigilant. Thankfully, there have been no reported injuries by anyone in our community from these incidents, but the individuals struck by the projectiles are understandably left deeply upset by the experience.

While it’s difficult to predict when and where these incidents will occur — some have occurred in daylight in high-traffic areas, while others occur at night — Brown DPS has begun patrolling areas of heavy pedestrian traffic more frequently. Additionally, we are employing patrol cars with non-flashing blue light beacons on their vehicle light bars, which serves two purposes: First, it provides significantly more visibility of our presence, which serves as a deterrent for those looking to engage in this behavior. Second, the high visibility allows community members to see and know that a safety asset is nearby if needed.

Even with these actions, the best strategy that we can undertake collectively is to live by the axiom: “If You See Something, Say Something.” Often, the parties engaged in this behavior from vehicles will circle a block several times before acting. We urge everyone to immediately call Brown DPS at 401-863-4111 when you observe this or other suspicious behavior. When possible, please note any unique vehicle descriptors such as:

• License plate number
• Color of vehicle
• Vehicle make and model
• Unique features (body damage, bumper stickers, cargo/bicycle racks etc.)

Brown DPS has been successful in locating some of the vehicles involved in incidents and has shared this information with Providence Police for their investigations. Our partnership with PPD is characterized by strong collaboration and resource sharing, which have proved to be key factors in a number of arrests. Brown DPS is also implementing new measures in regard to strategic deployment of our personnel (Brown police and contracted security) to deter these incidents.

One additional change that Brown DPS will implement as of today is a shift in how and when notifications about similar incidents are communicated to the University community. We will continue to provide periodic updates like this message, as needed; and we’ll continue to issue notifications for incidents that pose a serious or continuing threat to safety. However, for incidents in which the circumstances closely resemble those reported to date — use of non-lethal projectiles at locations near campus, with no reported injuries — we will no longer send separate email notices. With wide campus awareness of these incidents, new deterrents in place and recommendations for community members clearly outlined, individual notices are no longer fulfilling their purpose of alerting students, faculty and staff to a serious threat to safety and conveying information about resources. Our goal moving forward will be to communicate in instances when there are important new updates or resources to highlight, or at times when the specific circumstances of an incident require a timely warning.

We understand these kinds of incidents are concerning, and we appreciate the assistance of all students, staff, faculty and neighbors. We will continue to work in collaboration to provide a safe campus environment for all of our community members.

Sincerely,

Rodney Chatman 
Vice President for Campus Safety